Device for applying weatherstrip on a motor vehicle body, and related method

ABSTRACT

A device for applying a weatherstrip to a motor vehicle body, and a related method. The body bears an elongated receiving surface with a predetermined profile. The application device includes a plate for applying the weatherstrip on the receiving surface, a presser pressing the weatherstrip on the receiving surface, and a guide for guiding the application plate on a trajectory along the predetermined profile of the receiving surface The guide includes a programmable articulated mechanical element for moving the application plate, and that is programmable to adapt the trajectory of the application plate to different predetermined profiles corresponding to different vehicles.

The invention concerns, in general, automobile assembly lines andassembly methods.

More precisely, according to a first aspect, the invention concerns adevice for applying weather stripping on a motor vehicle body, this bodycarrying an elongated receiving surface of predetermined profile, theweather stripping comprising a thin wing bearing a bonding surface, theshape of which corresponds to the receiving surface and a hollowlongitudinal tube connected to the wing, the positioning devicecomprising a plate for applying the weather stripping bonding surface onthe receiving surface, a means for pressing the weather stripping on thereceiving surface, and a means for guiding the application plate on atrajectory along the predetermined profile of the receiving surface,where the guide means comprises at least a first means of referencingthe body with respect to the positioning device.

Devices of this type are known in the prior art, particularly throughthe patent application FR9809291. This application discloses a devicefor mounting weather stripping on a vehicle, essentially comprising atemplate which can be put in contact with the vehicle body; a plate,called a carriage in the patent application, carried by the template andcapable of being displaced thereon in order to ensure the positioning ofthe weather stripping; and a means for guiding and orienting the plateon the template.

The means for guiding and orienting the plate include three railsconnected to the template. The first rail, the shape of whichcorresponds to the surface receiving the weather stripping, defines thetrajectory to be followed by the plate along the vehicle body. Thesecond rail is used to maintain the force for applying the weatherstripping on its receiving surface along a direction that is alwaysnormal to said receiving surface. The third rail ensures, according to adirection transverse to the vehicle, the correct positioning of theplate with respect to the vehicle so that the weather stripping isperfectly flush with the geometry of the body.

This device is typically used in order to place the weather strippingaround the upper part of the door frames of the vehicle. The weatherstripping is used, on the one hand, to prevent water from running offalong the window or from penetrating into the passenger space and, onthe other hand, to limit aerodynamic noise.

This device has been used successfully on automobile assembly lines andhas led to a very clear increase in the quality of positioning of theweather stripping.

It enables one to maintain the parameters important for the quality ofpositioning within the recommended ranges during the entire duration ofthe operation. In contrast, during an operation of manually applying theweather stripping on the body, it is difficult to maintain a constantpositioning quality over the entire surface, and certain portions of theweather stripping adhere poorly. In the long term, this results indetachment of the weather stripping, at least in certain spots.

The main defect of the device of patent application FR9809291 derivesfrom the need to invest in and control, on the same assembly line, anumber of tools suited to different car models or to different versionsof the same model.

This disadvantage will become increasingly troublesome in the futurewith the institution of flexible lines, capable of producing an evenbroader range of vehicles.

In this context, the present invention aims to reduce the aforementioneddisadvantages.

For this purpose, the device of the invention, in other respects inaccordance with the definition given for it in the preamble above, isessentially characterized by the fact that the guide means comprises aprogrammable articulated mechanical means for displacing the applicationplate and a means for programming the articulated mechanical means toadapt the trajectory of the plate to different predetermined profilescorresponding to different types of vehicles.

In a possible embodiment, the application plate is selectively connectedto or disconnected from the articulated mechanical means.

Advantageously, the means for pressing the weather stripping cancomprise a second actuator which selectively forces the applicationplate towards the receiving surface.

Preferably, the application plate can comprise a support and a rollerfor application of the weather stripping on the receiving surface, theapplication roller rolling on a rolling surface of the thin wing on theside opposite the bonding surface.

For example, the application roller can be mounted so as to rotatefreely with respect to the support and can be put in rotation by a driveelement carried by the articulated mechanical means.

In the case of peelable weather stripping, the bonding surface of whichis coated with an adhesive material before positioning and which isprotected by a protective element, the application plate canadvantageously carry means for peeling the weather stripping, where thepeeling means comprises a roller for winding the element protecting theadhesive material mounted to rotate freely on the support and be rotatedby said drive element.

Preferably, the application plate can include some second referencingmeans to position a downstream end of the weather stripping in apredetermined reference position with respect to the application roller.

For example, the second referencing means can include at least one firstarm articulated on the support and an indexing finger connected to thefirst articulated arm, the indexing finger being mobile between anindexing position, where it is engaged in the hollow tube at thedownstream end of the weather stripping when said weather stripping isin the reference position, and a release position, where this indexingfinger is released.

Advantageously, the indexing finger can be forced elastically towardsits indexing position, where an actuator carried by the articulatedmechanical means selectively displaces the indexing finger towards itsrelease position.

Preferably, the application plate can include an upstream guide meansfor an upstream part of the weather stripping on the end opposite thedownstream end, where this upstream guide means is connected to thesupport and has first and second rollers rolling respectively over therolling surface and the bonding surface, and third and fourth rollerswith shafts parallel and perpendicular to the shafts of the first andsecond rollers.

For example, the positioning device can comprise feed and returnconveyors: a plurality of application plates that carry weatherstripping in the reference position arranged on the feed conveyor inpredetermined positions; the articulated mechanical means programmed toconnect to an application plate of the feed conveyor before the weatherstripping positioning operation, to deposit said application plate onthe return conveyor, and to disconnect from it once the weatherstripping positioning operation is finished.

In a second aspect, the invention relates to a process for applyingweather stripping on a motor vehicle body, using a positioning devicewith the advantageous characteristics above.

The method of the invention is essentially characterized by the factthat it includes the following steps:

a. programming of the means for programming the articulated mechanicalmeans to adapt the trajectory of the application plate to thepredetermined profile corresponding to the vehicle to be treated;

b. preparation by an operator of a plurality of application plates thatcarry the weather stripping in positions referenced to predeterminedpositions on the feed conveyor;

c. referencing of the vehicle body with respect to the positioningdevice;

d. displacement of the articulated mechanical means and connection ofsaid means to a prearranged application plate on the feed conveyor;

e. displacement of the articulated mechanical means and application ofthe downstream end of the weather stripping at one end of the receivingsurface;

f. displacement of the indexing finger towards its release position;

g. positioning of the weather stripping over the entire length of thereceiving surface by displacement of the application plate along thepredetermined profile;

h. displacement of the articulated mechanical means and depositing ofsaid application plate on the return conveyor;

i. disconnection of the articulated mechanical means and saidapplication plate;

j. repetition of the cycle of operations c to i for other vehicles ofthe same type;

k. periodically, addition of new application plates on the feed conveyorand ejection of the used application plates of the return conveyor, inmasked time with respect to the cycle of operations c to i;

l. resumption of the cycle at step a when switching to a new type ofvehicle.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emergeclearly from the description given below on an indicative andnon-limiting basis with reference to the appended figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the gripping device of the programmablearticulated mechanical means of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the application plate joined to thegripping device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the plate of the device of FIG. 1, duringthe operation of positioning of the weather stripping on the receivingsurface;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the plate of the device of FIG. 1, beforethe operation of positioning of the weather stripping on the receivingsurface, where the weather stripping is maintained in its referenceposition by the indexing finger;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the side of the plate of the device ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view along arrow VII of FIG. 6 of the upstreamguide means for the weather stripping.

The invention concerns a device for positioning weather stripping 10 onmotor vehicle body 20 (FIG. 4). This body 20 comprises elongatedreceiving surface 21 of predetermined profile.

As can be seen from FIGS. 6 and 7, weather stripping 10 comprises thinwing 11 bearing bonding surface 111, the shape of which corresponds toreceiving surface 21, and hollow longitudinal tube 12 integral with thinwing 11.

Thin wing 11 comprises rolling surface 112 on the side opposite bondingsurface 111. Hollow longitudinal tube 12 is connected to thin wing 11 ata transverse end of rolling surface 112, longitudinal rib 113 also beingformed on rolling surface 112.

Weather stripping of this type is commonly used in the automobileindustry.

The positioning device comprises, in a known manner, plate 30 forapplication of bonding surface 111 of weather stripping 10 on receivingsurface 21, means 40 for pressing weather stripping 10 on receivingsurface 21, and means 50 for guiding application plate 30 on atrajectory along the predetermined profile of receiving surface 21.

Guide means 50 include first means for referencing body 20 of thevehicle with respect to the positioning device.

According to the invention, guide means 50 also comprises programmablearticulated mechanical means 52 for displacing application plate 30 andmeans 53 for programming articulated mechanical means 52 to adapt thetrajectory of application plate 30 to different predetermined profilescorresponding to different types of vehicles.

The trajectory is regulated by programming means 53 so that thetransverse position of weather stripping 10 with respect to receivingsurface 21 is correct, that is, so that weather stripping 10 is flushwith respect to body 20.

Programmable articulated mechanical means 52 are typically robots of thetype that are already widespread in automobile assembly lines.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, such means comprise a base, at least twoarms, and gripping device 524 (FIGS. 2 and 3) carried by one of thearms. Application plate 30 is selectively connected to or disconnectedfrom gripping device 524, as will be described below. Gripping device524 is represented in FIG. 2. The base, the arms, and gripping device524 are connected by at least four joints, the axes of which are chosenso that the trajectory of application plate 30 can follow differentpredetermined profiles of receiving surface 21.

Robots of this type and their programming means 53 are known to theexpert in the field and will not be described here in detail.

As can be seen from FIG. 6, application plate 30 comprises support 31carrying attachment rod 36 on rear surface 311. Groove 361 is formed ata free end of attachment rod 36.

Gripping device 524 of articulated mechanical means 52 comprises firstopening 522, the shape of which complements that of rod 36.

Application plate 30 is connected to gripping device 524 by introducingrod 36 into first opening 522 and actuating first actuator 521, whichlocks rod 36 in position, for example, by engaging an immobilizing piece(not shown) in groove 361.

The disconnection of application plate 30 and gripping device 524 takesplace according to the reverse process.

Application plate 30 comprises roller 32 for applying weather stripping10 on receiving surface 21, carried by front surface 312 of support 31.

Application roller 32 is mounted to rotate freely with respect tosupport 31 and is placed in rotation by a drive element carried bymechanical means 52.

For this purpose, application roller 32 is connected to first shaft 321passing through support 31 and projecting from rear surface 311.

Gripping device 524 comprises second opening 525 in which first shaft321 is engaged when plate 30 is connected to gripping device 524. Inthis position, first shaft 321 is coupled to said drive element.

Application roller 32 comprises cylinder 322, the diameter of which isrelatively smaller, extended by coaxial disk 323, the diameter of whichis relatively larger.

Disk 323 comprises peripheral radial groove 324.

During the operation of positioning weather stripping 10, applicationroller 32 rolls by means of disk 323 over rolling surface 112 of thinwing 11, thus flattening bonding surface 111 on receiving surface 21 ofbody 20.

Longitudinal rib 113 is engaged in radial groove 324. Hollow tube 12 isguided during the positioning operation by the radial surface ofcylinder 322 and by an axial surface of disk 323 located oppositesupport 31.

Application roller 30, guided by guide means 50, thus moves along theentire receiving surface 21.

Weather stripping 10 is simultaneously pressed against receiving surface21 by pressing means 40. This means includes second actuator 523 carriedby articulated mechanical means 52, which forces application plate 30towards receiving surface 21. Articulated mechanical means 52 isprogrammed in such a way that the force of second actuator 523 isapplied according to a direction normal to receiving surface 21.

This direction is represented by arrow 1 of FIG. 4.

Second actuator 523 acts, for example, on a rib carried by rear surface311 of support 31.

According to the advantageous characteristic already described in thepatent application FR9809291, application roller 30 is subjected, duringthe positioning operation, to a torque tending to make it turn fasterthan a simple free rolling of said roller on the weather stripping.

This has the effect of compressing weather stripping 30 in thelongitudinal direction, which reduces or even cancels the elongation ofweather stripping 10 resulting from its compression.

In this way, one avoids the risks of long term detachment of the weatherstripping, particularly in delicate spots such as rounded parts.

In this way, it is possible to apply high pressures to the weatherstripping, which improves its adhesion to the body.

The weather stripping 10 used with the device of the invention isgenerally peelable. Its bonding surface 111 is coated with a materialwhich is adhesive before positioning. Protective element 13 covers thefree surface of the adhesive material over the entire length of bondingsurface 111 in order to prevent the bonding surface from becoming soiledand losing its adhesive properties before the beginning of thepositioning operation.

Before the beginning of the positioning operation, weather stripping 10is cut into sections in lengths corresponding to receiving surface 21.

Protective element 13 comprises, at one end of said sections, a tab forgrasping it and detaching the protective element from bonding surface111.

Application plate 30 carries means 33 for peeling weather stripping 10,that is, means for retracting protective element 13 immediately beforeweather stripping 10 is flattened against receiving surface 21 by theapplication roller.

Peeling means 33 comprises roller 331 for winding protective element 13,pivot roller 332, and counter roller 333, all mounted to rotate freelyon front surface 312 of support 31.

Winding roller 331 is placed in rotation by the same drive element asapplication roller 32.

For this purpose, roller 331 is connected to a second shaft passingthrough support 31 and projecting from rear surface 311 of support 31.

A mechanical means rotationally couples the shafts of application roller32 and winding roller 331. This mechanical means, not represented, cancomprise, for example, a belt, a chain, and/or pinion gears carried bythe shafts.

Winding roller 331 contains groove 335 in which the tab of protectiveelement 13 is engaged. This operation is done manually, before thebeginning of the operations of positioning of a section of weatherstripping 10 on a vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 4, protective element 13 is detached from weatherstripping 10 a certain distance from application roller 32. It pivotsabout pivot roller 332 and will be wound around winding roller 331.

Flexible metallic tab 336, connected to support 31, flattens protectiveelement 13 on winding roller 331 approximately at the point whereprotective element 13 begins to be wound on winding roller 331.

Pivot roller 332 rolls over bonding surface 111 of weather stripping 10,and counter roller 333 rolls over rolling surface 112. Pivot roller 332and counter roller 333 are located in opposition and thus serve as aguide for weather stripping 10.

In order to ensure very precise positioning of the weather strippingwith respect to body 20, guide means 50 comprises first means forreferencing the body with respect to the positioning device, and theapplication plate comprises second means 34 for referencing weatherstripping 10 with respect to application roller 32.

The first means for referencing the body with respect to the positioningdevice is a conventional means used in automobile assembly lines withautomated operations.

These first referencing means can include devices for measuring theposition of body 20, with contact (by probing) or without contact (bycameras), and/or devices for mechanically referencing the body on fixedsupports, and/or devices for continuously resetting the trajectory ofthe plate with respect to the profile of receiving surface 21.

Such means are known to the expert in the field and will not bedescribed here in detail.

Second means 34 for referencing weather stripping 10 with respect toapplication roller 32 makes it possible to position downstream end 14 ofthe section of weather stripping 10 in a predetermined referenceposition with respect to application roller 32.

The terms, upstream and downstream, are defined with reference to thedirection of positioning of the weather stripping sections, thedownstream end of the weather stripping being positioned at the start ofthe operation and the upstream end at the end of the operation.

Second referencing means 34 comprises first arm 341 connected to support31 by a first joint, intermediate arm 342 connected by a second joint toan end of arm 341, and indexing finger 343 connected by a third joint toan end of intermediate arm 342.

The first, second, and third joints each comprise elastic return means,typically helical springs, tending respectively to bring about thepivoting in the clockwise direction of first arm 341 with respect tosupport 31, of intermediate arm 342 with respect to first arm 341, andof indexing finger 343 with respect to intermediate arm 342.

Under the effect of these elastic return means, indexing finger 343 isconstantly flattened on the radial surface of cylinder 322. Thisindexing finger 343 points in the direction opposite to that of therotation of application roller 32, which is represented by arrow 2 inFIG. 4.

Indexing finger 343 can be displaced between an indexing position,represented in FIG. 5, where it is engaged in hollow tube 12 atdownstream end 14 of weather stripping 10 when said weather stripping isin the reference position, and a release position, represented in FIG.4, where this indexing finger 343 is released.

As can be observed by comparing FIGS. 4 and 5, it is the rotation offirst arm 341 and of intermediate arm 342, which effects thedisplacement of indexing finger 343, so that it slides along the radialsurface of cylinder 322.

This rotation is obtained by an actuator, not represented, carried byarticulated mechanical means 52, which selectively displaces firstarticulated arm 341.

Said actuator acts on third shaft 344 (FIG. 6), connected to firstarticulated arm 341, third shaft 344 being engaged in third opening 526of gripping device 524 when application plate 30 is connected to it.

Downstream end 14 of weather stripping 10 is manually arranged in itsreference position before the beginning of the positioning operation. Itis maintained in this reference position by indexing finger 343, whichis acted upon by the elastic return means of second referencing means34.

Indexing finger 343 is displaced towards its release positionimmediately at the beginning of the positioning of the weatherstripping, when downstream end 14 of weather stripping 10 is alreadyflattened on receiving surface 21. The displacement of the indexingfinger releases downstream end 14 of the weather stripping.

Application plate 30 also comprises upstream guide means 35 for upstreampart 15 of weather stripping 10 on the end opposite downstream end 14.

These upstream guide means 35 is used to prevent weather stripping 10from whipping objects located in the vicinity of the positioning deviceand damaging them, particularly body 20 of the vehicle.

As can be seen from FIG. 7, said upstream guide means 35 comprises twopairs of mutually opposing rollers 351 to 354, frame 355 on which therollers are mounted so as to rotate freely, and connecting arm 356rigidly connecting frame 355 to support 31.

First and second rollers 351 and 352 roll respectively over rollingsurface 112 and bonding surface 111 of weather stripping 10. Third andfourth roller 353 and 354, whose shafts are perpendicular to first andsecond rollers 351 and 352, roll on the two lateral surfaces of weatherstripping 10.

The positioning device comprises feed conveyor 61 and return conveyor62, which are arranged near articulated mechanical means 52.

A plurality of application plates 30 that carry weather stripping 10 inthe reference position are arranged on feed conveyor 61 in predeterminedpositions (FIG. 1).

Weather stripping 10 carried by the prepared application plates on feedconveyor 61 is made up of sections sized to the dimensions of receivingsurfaces 21 of the vehicles to be treated. The tabs of protectiveelements 13 of the weather stripping are already inserted in grooves 335of the winding rollers of their respective plates.

Said application plates 30 are therefore ready to be used by articulatedmechanical means 52.

Said application plates 30 are arranged on cassettes 63 each containingseveral receiving housings 64. Each housing 64 is intended toaccommodate one plate 30.

Each receiving housing 64 comprises raised parts which cooperate withnotches formed on support 31 of plate 30. Cassettes 63 are arranged atone end of feed conveyor 61.

Plate 30 is thus referenced with respect to cassette 63 and to grippingdevice 524.

Articulated mechanical means 52 is programmed to connect to applicationplate 30 arranged on feed conveyor 61 before the weather strippingpositioning operation and to deposit said application plate 30 in emptycassette 63 arranged on return conveyor 62 and disengage from it oncethe weather stripping positioning operation is finished.

Weather stripping 10 is maintained in its reference position by indexingfinger 343 during the trip between feed conveyor 61 and receivingsurface 21.

The operators of the positioning device can bring in cassettescontaining ready-to-use plates and eject the cassettes containing theused plates in masked time with respect to the weather strippingpositioning operation.

Of course, for the purpose of preventing accidents, the positioningdevice comprises protective shields 65 and means 66 for detection of thepresence of operators in the vicinity of the articulated mechanicalmeans, as can be seen from FIG. 1.

The process for positioning the weather stripping corresponding to thepositioning device just described will now be explained.

This process comprises the following steps:

a. Programming of means 53 for programming articulated mechanical means52 to adapt the trajectory of application plate 30 to the predeterminedprofile corresponding to the vehicle to be treated;

b. Preparation by an operator of a plurality of application plates 30carrying weather stripping 10 in reference position, in cassettes 63, inpredetermined positions on feed conveyor 61, the peeling of protectiveelement 13 from the weather stripping being initiated;

c. Referencing of body 20 of the vehicle with respect to the positioningdevice;

d. Displacement of articulated mechanical means 52 and connection ofsaid means to prearranged application plate 30 on feed conveyor 61;

e. Displacement of articulated mechanical means 52 and application ofdownstream end 14 of weather stripping 10 at one end of receivingsurface 21;

f. Displacement of indexing finger 343 towards its release position;

g. Positioning of weather stripping 10 over the entire length ofreceiving surface 21 by displacement of application plate 30 along thepredetermined profile and pressing of the weather stripping by means ofapplication roller 32;

h. Displacement of articulated mechanical means 52 and depositing ofsaid application plate 30 on return conveyor 62;

i. Disengagement of articulated mechanical means 52 and said applicationplate 30;

j. Repetition of the cycle of operations c to i for other vehicles ofthe same type;

k. Periodically, addition of new application plates 30 in cassettes 63on feed conveyor 61 and ejection of the used application plates ofreturn conveyor 62, in masked time with respect to the cycle ofoperations c to i;

l. Resumption of the cycle at step a when switching to a new type ofvehicle.

It is therefore indeed understood that the positioning device and therelated method make it possible to position weather stripping onvehicles of different models with receiving surfaces of differentshapes.

In order to switch from one shape to another, it is sufficient toreprogram the articulated mechanical means.

One thereby eliminates the constraint of having to manage numeroussingle-model devices for the same manufacturing line, while keeping theadvantages mentioned for the device of patent application 98 09 291,particularly the positioning quality.

1. An apparatus for applying weather stripping to a motor vehicle body,the body having an elongated receiving surface with a profile, theweather stripping comprising a thin wing having a bonding surfacecorresponding to the receiving surface and a hollow longitudinal tubeconnected to the wing, the positioning device comprising an applicationplate for application of the bonding surface of the weather stripping tothe receiving surface; means for pressing the weather stripping againstthe receiving surface, means for guiding the application plate over atrajectory along the profile of the receiving surface; and guide meanscomprising first means of referencing the body of the vehicle withrespect to the positioning device, wherein the guide means comprisesprogrammable articulated mechanical means for displacing the applicationplate and means for programming the articulated mechanical means toadapt the trajectory of the application plate to different profilescorresponding to different vehicles.
 2. The apparatus according to claim1, wherein the application plate is selectively connected to anddisconnected from the articulated mechanical means.
 3. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the means for pressing the weatherstripping includes a second actuator which selectively forces theapplication plate towards the receiving surface.
 4. The apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the application plate comprises a supportand an application roller for application of the weather stripping tothe receiving surface, the application roller rolling on a rollingsurface of the thin wing on a side of the wing opposite the bondingsurface.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the applicationroller rotates freely with respect to the support and is rotated by adrive element carried by the articulated mechanical means.
 6. Theapparatus according to claim 5, for positioning peelable weatherstripping, the bonding surface of which is coated with an adhesivematerial protected by a protective element, wherein the applicationplate includes means for peeling weather stripping, the means forpeeling comprising a roller for winding the protective element, rotatingfreely on the support and rotated by the drive element.
 7. The apparatusaccording to claim 4, wherein the application plate comprises secondmeans of referencing for positioning a downstream ends of the weatherstripping in a predetermined reference position with respect to theapplication roller.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein thesecond means of referencing comprises at least one first arm articulatedon the support and an indexing finger connected to the first articulatedarm, the indexing finger being displaceable between an indexingposition, engaging the hollow tube at the downstream end of the weatherstripping when the weather stripping is in the reference position, and arelease position, where the indexing finger is released.
 9. Theanparatus according to claim 8, wherein the indexing finger urgedelastically towards the indexing position, and including an actuatorcarried by the articulated mechanical means and selectively moving theindexing finger towards the release position.
 10. The apparatusaccording to claim 7, wherein the application plate comprises upstreamguide means for an upstream part of the weather stripping as an endopposite a downstream end, the upstream guide means being connected tothe support and comprising first and second rollers rolling respectivelyover the rolling surface and the bonding surface and third and fourthrollers with shafts respectively parallel and perpendicular to shafts ofthe first and second rollers.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 7,comprising a feed conveyor and a return conveyor, and a plurality of theapplication plates carrying the weather stripping in the referenceposition. arranged on the feed conveyor in predetermined positions, thearticulated mechanical means being programmed to connect to theapplication plate of the feed conveyor before weather strippingpositioning, and to deposit the application plate on the return conveyorand to disconnect from the application p)late once the weather strippingpositioning is finished.
 12. A method for applying weather stripping toa motor vehicle body, using the positioning device according to claim11, including: a. programming the articulated mechanical means to adaptthe trajectory of the application plate to the profile corresponding tothe vehicle to be treated; b. preparing the plurality of applicationplates carrying the weather stripping in the reference position inpredetermined positions on the feed conveyor; c. referencing the body ofthe vehicle with respect to the positioning device; d. displacing thearticulated mechanical means and connecting the articulated mechanicalmeans to prearranged application plates on the feed conveyor; e.displacing the articulated mechanical means and application of thedownstream end of the weather stripping to one end of the receivingsurface; f. displacing the indexing finger towards the release position;g. positioning the weather stripping over all of the receiving surfaceby displacing the application plate along the profile; h. displacing thearticulated mechanical means and depositing the application plate on thereturn conveyor; i. displacing the articulated mechanical means and theapplication plate; j. repeating steps c to i for other similar vehicles;k. periodically, adding new application plates to the feed conveyor andejecting used application plates from the return conveyor, in maskedtime with respect to steps c to i; and l. resuming at step a whenswitching to a different vehicle.